My ex Mother in Law was a wonderful cook. Early on in my marriage (1978) she hand wrote me a little notebook filled with family recipes. I know I have spoken of this book in the past. It is old and falling apart now, love splattered and the writing fading. It is one of my great treasures and this recipe I am sharing with you today comes from those care worn pages.
Every month I am the lucky recipient of a Degustabox. Once a month, around the middle of the month, I am sent one of these lovely boxes which contain a delicious assortment of all things foodie. I just love these boxes. Opening each one is tiny a bit like opening a Christmas gift. Always a surprise, and always filled with things that pique my interest and desire to try. Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that sends out a range of 10 to 15 specially selected foodie products.
There's always a great mix of new products that I haven't tried before, as well as plenty of treats from more established brands. Quite often you will have the opportunity to try new products before they arrive in the shops, so it can be a bit of a sneak peak! Each Degustabox costs only £12.99, delivery costs are included in the price, and there is no fixed contract involved - you can cancel at any time. I love getting these boxes! They are great value for money spent.
Each month I challenge myself to come up with a recipe using at least one article from the box. As soon as I saw the Amy's Kitchen soups, which happened to also be the product of the month, I knew what I wanted to make. Mother-In-Laws Swiss Steak was calling to me. More about that a bit later, first here is what was in the November Box, also known as the Festive Box!
These Mallow & Marsh Cranberry Marshmallows were included in the box, but not on the information sheet. I think they were meant to be a gift. In any case they have been well received. Delicious as always! Cranberries! I'm in!
WEETABIX on the Go Kids 1 X £2.99
Make mornings smooth with Weetabix on the go for kids. With four single serve boxes in a multi pack, you can be prepared for those busy mornings. There are three delicious flavours, and they contain Vitamin D, calcium, fiber and protein with no artificial flavours, sweeteners or colours.
Reese's Peanut Butter Snowman 1 X £3.00
A great Seasonal treat, a peanut butter filled snowman with a chocolate coating. The perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
Tabasco Original Red Pepper Sauce 1 X £2.00
Marking its 150th anniversary this year, Tabasco red pepper sauce is made with just three ingredients: red peppers, vinegar and salt. It has 0 calories and is vegan.
We love it on all sorts. Its great splashed on scrambled eggs!
Nick's Coconut Bar 1 X £1.45
Rich and delicious, this naturally sweetened coconut bar is coated with milk chocolate and no added sugar. The perfect choice for a delicious guilt-free indulgence. Find their products on amazon.co.uk/nicksjoinourfightonsugar and use the voucher DEGUSTA2 for a 20% discount.
The Bees Knees Non Alcoholic Sparkling Wine 20cl 1 X £1,89
The Bees s a sophisticated, vegan friendly alternative to sparkling wine Made from grapes and inflused with green tea, it offers floral aromas with refreshing acidity. It looks and tastes like a sparkling wine, but without alcohol, lower sugar, gluten free and around half the calories of the average fizz.
Jules Destrooper Almond Thins & Belgian Chocolate 1 X £2.19
The classic Jules Destrooper, crisp and nutty almond thins biscuit with a thin coating of just enough Belgian milk chocolate to make the perfect indulgent combination.
Can you say moreish?
Kallo Organic Vegetable Stock Pots 1 X £1.80
Kallo Organic Vegetable Stock Pots are the perfect partner to enhance all your family favourite, home cooked delicious dishes. Natural, organic and no added MSG or artificial ingredients. They simply add delicious flavor and nothing else.
I am a big fan of these. I use all of their organic stock pots.
Jack Daniels & Light Cola 2 X £2.00
A perfect mix of Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennessee Wiskey & light cola. Convenient, perfectly mixed drinks whether you're on the go or staying in with friends. Best served chilled
Emily Veg Crisps Sweet Potato Sticks 2 X £1.00
Get your crunch on with new Emily Veg Crips Swet Potato sticks. Try classic sea salt with a sprinkling of salt over traditional yellow and bold purple sweet potato, or zesty Chilli and Lime with a beautiful mix of spice with sharp, tangy lime.
Another moreish snack!
Amy's Kitchen Organic Chunky Tomato & Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup 2 X £1.80
Amy's Organic soups start as vegetables, not as broth. Their soup base is created by slowly sauteing tender organix vegetables with herbs. This modern method of making soup allows for the unique flavours of each soup to com forward.
No stranger to Amy's Kitchen, I am a huge fan of their products and especially the Chunky Tomato Soup, so it was no surprise that I decided to highlight it with a recipe! Although I have to say it is plenty delicious all on its own with some crackers on the side or crusty bread!
It was perfect for this recipe I am sharing today. My mother in laws version of swiss steak.
Its a pretty simple recipe with very few ingredients . . . just steak, onions, soup and seasonings. You want a really nice flavoured soup for this, one that shines with lovely tomato flavours, and Amy's Kitchen Chunky Tomato soup does just that!
I like that there are plenty of chunks of tomato in the soup, which makes it perfect for this recipe.
We like lots of onions. Oh boy but it smells so tasty when it is cooking . . .
The steak is browned along with the onions and then slowly simmered in the oven with the soup and some water. My mil added nothing else except for a beef boullion cube.
And of course you can certainly leave it as its most basic and it will still taste pretty good. I have added a few things through the years . . .
Specifically some Worcestershire sauce and a bit of balsamic vinegar . . .
I tend to season the meat very well prior to cooking also, with seasalt, black pepper . . .
And a bit of onion and garlic powders, but that is a personal preference. You could also add herbs if you wished. I think Thyme would work very well.
Left simple, or amped up, this is delicious and very simple to make. We love it served with piles of fluffy mash and a few vegetables on the side. It always goes down a real treat!
Yield: 4Author: Marie Rayner
Mother In Laws Swiss Steak
prep time: 15 minscook time: 2 hourtotal time: 2 hours and 15 minsAn old family favorite which is very simple, uses simple ingredients. Long slow cooking insures fork tender steak. We like lots of onions in this.ingredients:
1 pound stewing steak, well trimmed and cut into serving piecessalt and black pepper to tastegarlic and onion powdera small knob of butter1 tin of tomato soup, along with 1 tin of water (I North America, using the condensed soupsuse 2 tins of water)1 beef boullion cube1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce1/2 TBS good balsamic vinegar4 large onions, peeled cut in half and then cut into half moonsinstructions:
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/gas mark
4. Melt a knob of butter in a large skillet. Add the onions and saute
until beginning to soften. Transfer to a large casserole dish with a
lid.
Season the steak pieces all over with
salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders. Brown on all sides in the
skillet, adding more butter if you need to. Remove to the casserole and
nestle amongst the onions.
Add the soup and
water to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from cooking the meat
and onions. Crumble in the boullion cube and add the Worcestershire
sauce and balsamic vinegar. Bring to the boil, then pour over the meat
and onions in the casserole dish. Cover tightly and cook in the oven
for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the meat is fork tender and the juices have
thickened.
Serve with some of the onions and gravy spooned over top and plenty of mash and a vegetable or two on the side. Delicious!Created using The Recipes Generator
DEAL: Get your £5 off your first box, plus get free bonus item and delivery! Use coupon code HELLOSUBSCRIPTION18.
In the US but just looking for fun? Use code HELLOSUBSCRIPTION7 to get your first US box for $12.99! You’ll also get free shipping and a free bonus gift!
So, that was the November Degustabox - a nice selection of products as always. We loved it. The price of each Degustabox is £12.99 (including delivery). To order your box, visit www.degustabox.com
Many thanks to Degustabox UK for sending me this box. I have to say I really look forward to getting my box each month. There are always lots of things in it to enjoy and new products to try out. I highly recommend. You can also tailor the boxes to your own likes and dislikes by filling in your own Taste Profile. Do you like the sound of this box? Why not sign up now! I find them to be really good value for money spent and I really enjoy trying out new products that I have not tried before.
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Note - Although I was sent a box free of charge any and all opinions are my own.Bon appetit!